Users of this web resource are warned that it may contain images and/or references to deceased people, which could cause distress or sadness particularly for some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The resource may also contain words and descriptions that could be culturally sensitive and which might not normally be used in public or community contexts. For example, some information may be considered appropriate for viewing only by men or only by women. The HealthInfoNet respects such culturally sensitive issues, but, for technical reasons, it has not been possible to provide materials in a way that prevents access by a person of the other gender. Users are asked to respect this cultural protocol.

Author

Pieris D

Publisher

Sharing the True Stories

City

N/A

Type

Audiovisual

Description

The following excerpt is reproduced from a Northern Territory government media release (24 May 2002) with kind permission of Kerry Sharp, Royal Darwin Hospital PR/Media Officer. Health and Community Services Minister Jane Aagaard launched Royal Darwin Hospital's initiative to break down cultural and communication barriers between staff and indigenous patients - an educational video titled Operation story. Operation story tells Aboriginal people what to expect when they are admitted to hospital for an operation. It has been produced in three Aboriginal languages so far - Djambarrpuyngu, Burarra and Aboriginal English, with English subtitles. Several other language versions are planned. Mrs Aagaard said Operation story would become a crucial and highly valued educational tool for easing the anxiety of Aboriginal patients as they prepared for anaesthesia, surgery and other hospital procedures. "Uncertainty about what happens in hospitals often creates very real fears for people," she said. "The video aims to reduce that fear and uncertainty by taking people waiting for surgery through the whole process, from pre-admission to surgery and recovery. 'It emphasises points relating to consent and rights and the importance of fasting, stopping smoking and taking medications before a scheduled surgical procedure.'Mrs Aagaard said the video was a direct response to evidence from Royal Darwin Hospital research showing that:

doctors were 10 times more likely to believe that Aboriginal people did not have the same levels of understanding as non-Aboriginal people about what anaesthetics did to them; and

doctors were eight times more likely to change their anaesthesia plan for Aboriginal people because of communication difficulties.

'National research has also shown that Aboriginal people have fewer hospital procedures despite having higher levels of conditions co-existing with whatever it was that brought them in for surgery,' Mrs Aagaard said. 'While the reasons for this are not entirely clear, it is likely that a lack of understanding about elective surgery is a contributing factor.' Operation story was produced by Dr David Pieris, a former RDH Anaesthetics Registrar who now works as a GP at Galiwin'ku (Elcho Island) in Arnhem Land. The video is the product of close cooperation between the Department of Anaesthesia and the Aboriginal Liaison Service at RDH and the Territory's Aboriginal Interpreter Service. The project team consulted widely with staff and Aboriginal groups to make sure that the video communicated the right information in ways that were culturally appropriate. Production was funded by a grant from the Quality Improvement and Enhancement Project of the Department of Health and Community Services and the video was directed, filmed and edited by Formation Studios.